Some things are too precious to toss at this Ballard shop
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Treasures worth keeping. Photo: Growing Boy Media/Courtesy of We Fix Old Stuff
Some things are made to last. And at a new Ballard repair shop, Ashley Zaworska and David Nebert aim to make sure they do.
Why it matters: In a world awash in disposable goods, the founders of We Fix Old Stuff are reaching Seattleites who share their delight in fine craftsmanship, quality materials and objects that might outlive us all.
- The pair opened their workshop Oct. 2 after testing the concept for six months at a pop-up in Lake City.
How it works: The shop specializes in lighting but also repairs vintage appliances, fabricates missing parts and converts old oil lamps into electric fixtures, sometimes enlisting glassblowers, metalworkers and other specialists.
- People come in for everything from safety checks on thrift-store finds to designers restoring high-end fixtures and families hoping to preserve cherished heirlooms, the co-owners told Axios.
- Projects have included piecing together a shattered ceramic platter, restoring a grandmother's fire-damaged chandelier and arranging for a vintage refrigerator handle to be recreated using 3D scanning and recasting.
Zoom in: Consider the customer who brought in a 1940s Toastmaster toaster that had developed cold spots and wasn't browning bread evenly.
- He already had another toaster, Nebert told Axios, but preferred his trusty old Toastmaster to any model available today.
The backstory: Nebert loves puzzling over unfamiliar objects, figuring out how they work and finding ways to fix them.
- His years working at a high-end lighting shop gave him a deep appreciation for the materials, design and workmanship of older pieces.
- Among the finest creations he's handled are original Tiffany lamps, whose "exquisite craftsmanship" awed him.
Zaworska, a licensed architect and designer, was having trouble finding the right lighting for a project about six years ago when her friend's husband — Nebert — suggested they make their own.
- She thought he was joking, but that playful challenge eventually launched their first business, Moon Moon Lighting Co.
By the numbers: Basic socket or switch replacements cost about $40 to $50, while rewiring a table lamp generally runs $100 to $150. More complicated restorations and customizations can cost several hundred dollars.
What they're saying: Zaworska, who describes herself as deeply attached to her own possessions, understands why customers don't want to part with their treasures.
- There's soul in these old things, the pair say, and satisfaction in keeping beautiful, well-made things alive.
If you go: The shop at 4818 14th Ave. NW is open Friday from 10am to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm, with a daily closure from 1:30 to 2:30pm.
- Monday through Thursday visits are by appointment.